(CNN) – At least one potential presidential contender is openly fearing a White House bid from Sarah Palin.

"No question, she will be a very, very strong presence and force, if she gets in," former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told reporters in Des Moines, Iowa Sunday, according to the Des Moines Register. "You know, she may run away with it. And that's one of those things everyone needs to be prepared for."
"If I get in, I prefer she not and that she endorse me," joked the 2008 presidential candidate who himself turned the race upside down with his win in Iowa on a shoestring budget.

Palin makes a stop of her own in Des Moines next weekend to promote her new book, "America by Heart."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee knows Iowa politics about as well as any potential presidential candidate.

soundoff(51 Responses)

Rich in NJ

Run, Sarah, Run! And did I mention that I'm a Democrat? Actually, her candidacy would be good for the GOP – in the long run. She would be the Republican version of George McGovern. With Palin at the head of the ticket, the GOP would be scrambling to try and save states like Texas and Alabama. In the aftermath, the GOP would be forced to move back toward the center.

November 22, 2010 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

As one Republican commentator said "after 2008 Palin was sent back to Alaskan to "govern and study" instead she got a reality show, does that looks like someone who is serious about becoming President".

November 22, 2010 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |

GuyinVA

I can't wait to hear the same old liberal line from Barbra Streisand, Alec Baldwin and all the other Hollywood leftists. "If Palin (or insert any republican here) wins, I'm leaving the country." Promises, promises. Have the courage of your supposed convictions and go! That goes for those on the right as well if a democrat wins. If you think that little of your country, go. As for Annie in Atlanta, the fact that you don't get that "We the People" are the reason for Gov. Palin's popularity as well as her unpopularity (?) says volumes about you. You know, people having a voice in their own government. I know the left hates the thought of that. Whether we like them or not, "We the People" gave rise to the TEA Party.

November 22, 2010 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |

kds562

We do have to watch out for Palin. She will have two years to continue her rants about everything that is wrong but will offer nothing to fix our problems. It won't matter to the wingnuts, Tea Baggers and religious freaks (American Taliban) that agree with her because they also live in the past. Take back America for the old white men – Look around – things are a changin

November 22, 2010 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |

Jay

I'll post again in two years... But yes, please, let's put this oracle of stupidity on display, once and for all. But first, let's watch her party favorites chew her up in the primaries and expose how they REALLY feel about her. Just be careful if she makes it to the general election, boys, because she does not forgive and forget. This woman writes BOOKS about being wronged. Expect a broadway musical if she doesn't win again (and keeps the wardrobe).

November 22, 2010 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

Truth in Reporting, Texas

Wonder if Palin wants to tell her grandchildren about Grandaddy Todd's membership in the Alaskan Independence Party while
they are "sitting on their porch". This group, founded by Jo Vogler, who called the American flag that "damn flag" while
advocating cessation from America. The hate America rhetoric that comes out of this so-called party is very
frightening, yet while Palin likes to pick on OUR First Lady, she tells these nutcases, while Governor, "God Bless You",
and "Keep up the good work". Guess Trigg wouldn't want to hear that Grandaddy, now registered as an undecided
voter, hates Amerca. People as old and uneducated as the Palin's don't change their colors, in other words, I bet he
still hates America and she just loves money and drooling, just as ignorant, followers.
So don't worry Huckster, you nor Palin should measure any drapes yet.

November 22, 2010 01:37 pm at 1:37 pm |

Elaine

As an independent, I am blown away by the fact that people even consider Palin a possible candidate. I was shocked when McCain picked her as his VP candidate too. For citizens to think that such an ignorant and uninformed person could hold the highest office in an electoral democracy doesn't bode well for electoral democracy. You may not believe in evolution but with the rise of Palin you cannot ignore devolution!

November 22, 2010 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

Annie, Atlanta

Samantha, have you paid attention at all these last two years to what the President has been attempting to do? Have you seen the roadblocks thrown up with GOP filibusters, and every other procedure they can use in the Senate to stop him so they can make him look like a failure? Pay attention. Our country depends on all of us to do so. I've never seen a President attacked like this. Obviously he's po'd some of the big money interests in trying to rein them in. Pay attention and stop listening to the right wing lies long enough to figure out what's going on for yourself. We're being distracted with lies while the corporations, Wall Street, millionaires, and billionaires buy our government out one representative at a time. We're being slowly programmed to hate each other instead of the people that are destroying our democracy.

November 22, 2010 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

clint

You watch out for her Huckabee, the rest of America has more important and pressing things on their plates. From what I've seen so far, the GOP can't put up a single candidate I'd waste my time voting for.

November 22, 2010 01:42 pm at 1:42 pm |

TOTAL FACTS

Anyone with a serious patriotic mind could not even consider OBAMA for another term. The man has tried to and will eventually if elected for another term totally destroy America. Wake up you followerers of his. Can you not see the facts. I was a Democrat for 50 years. But when a government puts unqualified Judges in Federal positions that would denouce God and the Constitution of the U.S. something is critically wrong with the people of the United States. Obama followerers can not even accept the truth when it's in their face staring at them instead they had rather run their blabbering mouths in blaspheming some other person especially one in particular that hasn't even announced she was going to run. BUT IF SHE DOES AND I HOPE SHE DOES, SARAH PALIN WILL BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN 2012. No one that is worth a darn would give one vote to the illegal traitor now in office.

November 22, 2010 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |

Whammybar

Huckahoo? Presidential potential? Doesn't he spend 200 million a day on himself at taxpayers expense creating lies and propaganda for fear mongering? He belongs to the party of no ideas doesn't he?

November 22, 2010 01:55 pm at 1:55 pm |

Michael in Houston

Not that I am counting, however, of the top 6 headliners on the ticker, 5 of them are about Palin. CNN....I used to think you had a real obsession with Palin that bordered....well weird. Now I know it for fact. Your network is wholly consumed with Palin. This morning on CNN.....one of your lead stories was consulting with some previous American Idol contestant on his view of Bristol on Dancing with the stars.
You people at CNN need some serious couch time with a Dr who can help you work through your obssessive Palin reporting.

November 22, 2010 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm |

Sorry Huck, But Palin. . .

Will get the TeaPublican nomination. There is nothing anyone can do to stop her.

November 22, 2010 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

Indy

Sounds like Huck is a fan and will buy her ghost written book "America By Heart ,Except for When I Was a Seperatist" by Sarah Palins ghost writer. Sarah Palin is never going to grace the Whitehouse and Huckster is just trying to be polite, she could not get past one debate or one serious interview outside of the fox house.

November 22, 2010 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

MiddleOfTheRoad

Sarah Palin will self-destruct. Unfortunately, she will be a multi-millionaire. Go buy her new book. Give her a cushion to retire on.

November 22, 2010 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

fayse1

These polls are a joke. If anyone is paying attention to the thousands of comments that have been posted about Princess Palin, she is not considered as electable by the majority of people making these comments. 95% of the comments are anti Palin. I am beginning to suspect that CNN is manipulating the polls so that she will run and make an even bigger fool of herself.

November 22, 2010 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |

Embroiderista

Can someone please tell me what "America by Heart" means? Does it mean that she remembers it by rote? Is it an album of power ballads by Nancy and Ann Wilson? What does the title of the book Mrs. Palin is taking credit for mean?

November 22, 2010 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

GonzoinHouston

What's that old saying? "Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it". Sarah was what the GOP wanted in 2008 and the Tea Party was what they wanted in 2010, and now they have to live with both of them. There is a real chance that she could either win the nomination or wreck the party by running as a third-party candidate. Either way Obama wins.

Fortunately for the GOP, Sarah's in it for the money these days. It will take mid-8 figures to buy her off, but it can be done. Especially with the current campaign finance rules.

November 22, 2010 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

Bill in California

IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME. Mention the name SARAH PALIN and all the LEFT WING LOONIES go absolutely nuts! Their false bravado fools no one. They are shaking in their boots because of her growing prominence on a national scale. Whether she runs or not she will always garner the support of common sense patriots in all of her endeavors. GO SARAH!

November 22, 2010 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

Linda in FL

It is not bad enough we here in FL are stuck with who was elected. II have my passport ready if she wins. It will be a miserable , long four years.

November 22, 2010 02:28 pm at 2:28 pm |

AZ DEM

RUN SARAH RUN!!! 2012 will be more of a landslide than Reagan had in 84. She is going to be very tough to beat in the Republican primary. Much like the Tea Party brought us Angle, O'Donnell, and Paladino in 2010 they could get Sarah on the top of the ticket in 2012. Hopefully this happens cause Obama needs 8 years to fix all of GWB's mess. Obama has probably seen his approval rating go as low as it will so going off of history he is positioniong himself nicely for re-election.

November 22, 2010 02:29 pm at 2:29 pm |

diridi

palin is plain stupid, and idiot.....so are Huckabee, Mitt, Mitch, Eric Cantor, that pumpkin faced NY man Rudy....they are all....listen, when wall street collapsed, you and I lost from Stocks, but surprisingly, non of these politicians did.....true, obama needs to investigate....o.k....inside trading, i was watching....god bless this nation, we do not need politicians, we need leaders, true leaders....that do not ship jobs to india, or china....when ever you hear from oriantall voice, just cancel your visa card, and M/C.....I did you do....

November 22, 2010 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |

gary

She should run with Sharon Angle as her running mate. Maybe they could get O'Donnell as secretary of state. All three nitwits could be on the stage at the same time. What a joke.

November 22, 2010 02:38 pm at 2:38 pm |

Dave

Please Gomer! She does not stand a chance of winning. You have a better chance of beating BO in 2012....and that is frightening,Tax Hike Mike! So sick of hearing about this lady. She hijacks a grass roots movement along with a few others and now the Tea Party takes its talking points from the GOP and not as a not-affiliated-with-either-party movement. Wake up to the fact that the two-party system is a scam.

November 22, 2010 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Gary, Hunt Valley, Md.

The latest polls indicate Americans are watching out for Palin. A heavy majority of voters know she is unfit in every way to be president, and a heavy majority of men would like to have sex with her. Still trying to figure out her appeal to educated women.